Re-1 inks deal with Sirko

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BASALT - The Roaring Fork School District Re-1 board on Wednesday finalized a $165,000 annual contract for Diana Sirko to remain as superintendent of schools in Glenwood Springs, Carbondale and Basalt through the 2014-15 school year.

In addition, the board and Sirko have asked Rob Stein, who was the original pick to become Re-1 superintendent this year, to be the new assistant superintendent and chief academic officer starting in July.

"I welcome the opportunity to work with Dr. Stein and the rest of our great staff members and communities to provide the best education possible for all of our students," Sirko said in a statement Thursday following the board's meeting at Basalt High School on Wednesday night.

"I believe our collective efforts in the coming years will allow us to build on the current strengths and successes of our district and move us forward in a manner that will only provide positive outcomes for our students," she said.

Stein, a former Denver Public Schools principal as well as a private school teacher and principal for many years, was chosen by the Re-1 school board in May to become the new district superintendent, replacing former Superintendent Judy Haptonstall.

The Re-1 board, at the start of 2012, declined to renew Haptonstall's contract. Former Re-1 assistant superintendent Brad Ray later resigned to take a similar position with the Garfield County Re-2 School District.

However, Stein had to resign the superintendent's post after a short time on the job in July because of a family emergency.

Sirko, a former Aspen School District superintendent and deputy commissioner with the Colorado Department of Education, was hired as interim Re-1 superintendent later that month. The board decided in December, after meeting with both Sirko and Stein to offer the superintendent's job to Sirko.

Stein has agreed to fill the assistant superintendent position for the 2013-14 school year. The position will remain vacant for this school year.

Re-1 school board President Matt Hamilton said Sirko and Stein bring unique but complementary skill sets to the school district. Especially as the district prepares to launch what Hamilton called a "broad and deep community conversation" to develop new education strategies in local schools, strong leadership will be important, he said.

"Combining the talents of two extremely capable and highly skilled leaders provides the communities, children and schools of the Roaring Fork School District with the ability to reach new heights and become one of the best school districts in the state if not the country," Hamilton said in the district's statement.

Stein, who taught at Colorado Rocky Mountain School in the 1980s, said he looks forward to joining Re-1.

"We don't get many second chances in life, and the fact that there is another opportunity for me to join the district is something I feel fortunate to have," Stein said. "The board is being very strategic in maintaining strong leadership and stability while thinking about the long-term sustainability of our efforts."